Large-capacity well pump



2 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 29, 1925.

J. PENROD ET AL.

LARGE CAPACITY WELL PUMP 4 F'iled April 4, 1924 sept. 29, 1925. v 1,555,230

J. PENROD ET AL LARGE GAPACTY WELL PUMP Filed April 4. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 VIN VEN TORS Patented Sept. 29, 1925.

lfuixirrEn STATES .PATENT OFFICE. Y

LARGE-CAPACITY, WELL i PUMP.

Application filed April 4,

To all whom t may Iconcern Be it known that we, JOHN PENROD and ROBERTD. THOMPSON, citizens of the United States, residing at Okmulgee, in the county of Okmulgee and'State of Oklahoma, have inventedcertain new *andl useful Improvements' in Large-Capacity Well Pumps, of which the following is a specification.

y This invention relates to pumps especially adapted for use in wells.

An important object o f this invention is to provide a pump having simple means whereby the valve carrying' unit of the pump is detachably connected to the plunger liner in such a manner that the valve carrying unit may be expeditiously separated from the plunger liner and drawn to the surface for repair and subsequently returned to the well for reconnection with the plunger liner.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel means to support the plunger liner to receive and to clutch onto the valve carrying unit when lowered into the well.

l Also, an important object of this invention. is to provide a pump which is characterized by extreme simplicity of construction, reliability in use, and which is provided with means to reduce leakage to a minimum.

` Gther objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figures 1 and 1a show the improved pump in section, the parts being shown in the position they occupy immediately after the clutching of the plunger liner onto the valve Vvcarrying unit;

Vbody forming a part of the invention and which is directly engaged with the upper portion of the valve carrying unit to connect the valve carrying unit to the plunger liner.

In the drawing wherein for the purpose of 1924. Serial No. 704,219.

end of the section 9 has connection with a bushing' 14 which forms a support for a packing'A The packing 15 is provided lwith upper and llower follower rings 16 and 17,l respectively, the upper vfollower ring being directly engaged by the lower end of a barrelV 19.

The barrel 19 has threaded engagement lwith the bushing 11 and extends a substantial distance above the same. Thatportion 'y yof the barrel 19 which extends through and abovethe bushingv11` is reduced somewhat lin Yexternal diameter and is arranged inwardly'of the sectionv 8 to co-operate with .the same in the formation of an annular W,

sand trap as illustrated clearly'in Fig. 1.-

Referring again to the packing 15 and the follower rings 16 ,and 17 ,"'it is desired to ystate that the construction of these parts is such that .if wear.takesfplacebetween the l plunger liner 22 and the packing the pressure of the liquidwhich escapes will exert itselfon the follower' ring '16 so that a tight connection will be 'provided between the packing'rings and the plunger liner.

Fig. 2a villustrates V`vthat an 5 upper valve casing or nipple 24 is threadedinto the bushing 14 and f supports' a coupling 25. The

vcoupling 25 is iny turn connected to a lower 'standing valve cas1ng26 through the me'- dium of a bushing 27. K

Fig.k 2a best illustrates that a standing valve assembly 29 is mounted 4upon the bushing 27 and is provided with a ball 30 which `co-operates with an annular vvalve seat 31 in preventing the return of the liquid. The

ball 30 is enclosed within aycage 32.A

A second standinglvalve assembly 34 is arranged beneath the upper valve assembly 29 and is enclosed within' the casing or nipple 26 as villustrated in F ig. 2a. The upper and lower standing valves 29'and 34 operate in the same direction and effectively cooperate in preventing the return of the pumped fluid. If A.any oil or other fluid should leak through the upper valve assembly 29 it will be prevented from returning to the well by the lower valve assembly. The arrangement is such that the upper and lower standing valves open during the upward stroke of the plunger liner 22 and consequently a quantity of fluid is drawn into the pump by way of the perforated inlet nipple 35.

The plunger liner is designated by the u numeral 22 and, of course, reciprocates within the barrel 19. The lower portion of the plunger liner is provided with a valve seat 40 upon which a spherical valve 41 rests and, as illustrated in Figs. 1a and 2", the upward movement of the valve 41 is limited by a cross pin 42.

Fig. 2 best illustrates that the upper section 44 of the plunger liner has threaded engagement with the lower portion of an inner clutch body 46, the upper portion of the clutch body being formed with a plurality of longitudinal incisions to define spring arms or members 47. The clutch body 46 is adapted to receive the detachable tubular valve carrying unit 48 and during the insertion of the valve carrying unit 48 the jaws 47 are separated. However, whenV the detachable valve carrying unit 48 reaches the limit of its movement through the inner clutch body 46 the interiorly and eXteriorly enlarged terminal portions or attaching members 50 of the jaws 47 are received in anannular groove 51 in the valve carryin unit. lt is thus seen that when the enlarged v terminal portions 50 of the inner clutch body 46 are received in the annular groove 51 the clutch body will be connected to the valve carrying unit.

The valve carrying unit 48 and more particularly an annular shoulder 53 on the lower end of the same will engage an annular shoulder 54 in the lower portion of the section 44 so that the weight of the sucker rod and the valve carrying unit is transmitted to the plunger liner.

It is important to note that when the plunger liner is not connected to the valve carrying unit 48 it settles to the bottom of the shell 5 and is yieldably supported by a stout helical spring 56. However, when the weight of the valve carrying unit and sucker ro'd is transmitted to the plunger liner the spring will yield and the plunger liner moves downwardly to some extent so that the outer clutch body 60 carried by the inner clutch body will also descend and engage the upper end of the bushing 10.

When the unit 48 is being introduced into the plunger liner the enlargements 50 are l arranged in an annular groove 61 in the upper portion of the outer clutch body 60. Now when the downward movement of the outer clutch body 60 is stopped by the bushing 10 the inner clutch body 46 will continue to move downwardly with the valve carrying unit 48 and will enter the restricted central portion of the outer clutch body 60 as illustrated in Fig. 1. The intermediate portion of the outer clutch body 60 is Jformed with a series of longitudinal slots which deline a plurality of springs 64 for securely gripping the outer sides of the enlargements 50. The springs 64 press inwardly on the enlargements 50 and cause the enlargements to remain in the annular groove 51 in gripping engagement with the unit 48.

When the parts are positioned as illustrated in Fig. 1 the plunger liner will be reciprocated within Xed limits and the Huid will pass upwardly through the upper and lower standing valves 29 and 34, respectively, and through the plunger liner 22. A portion of the fluid will be discharged through radial openings 68 in the upper section 44 of the plunger liner and the fluid which is passed out through these openings will pass upwardly into the tubing above. However, a large portion of the oil will pass upwardly past the upper and lower valves 69 and 70 respectively of the unit 48. Any sand which may be present in the fluid will settle by gravity into the sand pocket provided between the upper portion of 'the barrel and the section 8.-

During the descent of the inner clutch body 46 within the outer clutch body 60 an annular shoulder 65 on the inner clutch body will flatly contact with an annular shoulder 66 formed within the outer clutch body. Of course, the descent of the outer clutch body was previously stopped and when the external shoulder 65 contacts with the internal shoulder 66 the descent of the inner clutch body will be stopped so that the'enlargements 50 will be positioned for more or less constant engagement by the springs 64.

To withdraw the valve carrying unit 48 it is merely necessary to move the sucker rod upwardly a distance greater than the normal stroke so that the bushing 75 on the upper end of the outer valve body 60 is engaged with the bushing 6 on the upper end of the shell. l/hen the bushing 75 is thus engaged with the bushing 6 further' upward movement of the outer clutch body is, of course, stopped, but the valve unit 48 will continue to move upwardly and carry with itpthe inner clutch body 46 so that the enlargements 50 will be received in the annular groove 61.

ing upon the spring 56 the inner and outer clutch members are in a receptive position so that when the valve unit 48 is again introduced into the well it may be expeditiously clutched into engagement with the plunger liner.

.lt is necessary to relieve the plunger liner of the weight of the column of oil when the same is yieldably supported by the spring 56 and we, therefore, provide the upper portion of the cage 32 with a stem 85, which stem'extends into the lower portion of the plunger liner and unseats the valve 41. Therefore, the weight of the column of oil is not borne by the plunger liner, but'is borne by the upper and lower standing valves 29 and 34. This allows the plunger liner to be lightly supported by the spring 56 so that the same may be moved down a limited eX- tent for the engagement of the outer clutch body 60 with the bushing l() when the valve unit 48 is introduced.

F ig. 1 illustrates that the upper ortion of the opening through the bushing 75 is flared so as to freely receive the tapered or reduced lower end of the valve unit 48 and to guide the same into position. The upper portions of the arcuate jaws 50 are beveled inwardly so as to form a gradually restricted entrance opening for the valve unit 48. Fig. l illustrates that the lower portion of the valve carrying unit 48 is provided with a packing 90 which is snugly engaged with the reduced lower portion of the upper section 44 whereby to establish a liquid tight connection between the valve carrying unit and the plunger liner.

Of course, the plunger liner is substantially greater in length than the valve carrying unit 48 and extends through and beyond the working barrel. It will be understood that in the normal operation or stroke of the plunger' liner the stem 85 does not engage the ball 41 and consequently the ball is unseated only on the downward movement of the plunger in the normal lstroke of the plunger and on the descent of the plunger beyond the normal stroke.

In summarizing, it will be seen that the plunger liner is permanently located beneath the tubing and is not in any way restricted as to capacity or diameter by the tubing. Also, the lower valve of the plunger is, as previously stated, carried by the plunger liner and may be .of a very generous size since it is not in any way limited as to size by the tubing. The sand which settles from above does not interfere with the lower valve of the plunger and consequently this lower valve need not be readily removable.

Also, in carrying out the invention, the upper and lower standing valves may be of very generous size since they are not at any time moved through the tubing. Of course, to repair the standing valves, or the plunger liner, or the lower valve of the plunger, the tubing must be pulled, but as previously stated, this is seldom necessary.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

l. A well pump comprising a liner, a clutch member associated therewith and having attaching members, a second clutch member having means to partially receive said attaching members and having incisions defining springs adapted for contacting with and holding said attaching members in engagement with an object lowered intothe well.

2. A well pump comprising a reciprocatory member, a clutch member associated therewith and having attaching members provided with enlargements, a second clutch member having means to partially receive said enlargements, a plurality of separate springs adapted for contacting with and holding said enlargements in engagement withv an object lowered into the well.

3. A pump comprising a plunger liner, a

clutch memberl carried by the plunger liner' and having a plurality of spring arms, the terminal portions of which are formed with gripping members, a second clutch member receiving the first clutch member and having means to allow of the separation of thev gripping members and the movement of the same to inoperative position, and a valve carrying unit movable into said plunger liner and having means engaged by said gripping members, said second clutch member being formed with an annular series of spring members engaging said gripping members and holding the same in clutching engagement with said valve carrying unit.

4. AV pump comprising a plunger liner, a clutch member carried by the plunger liner and having a plurality of spring arms, the

terminal portions of which are formed with gripping members, a second clutch member receiving the first clutch member and having means toallow of the separation of the gripping members and the movement of the same to inoperative position, a valve carrying unit movable into said plunger liner and having means engaged by said gripping members, said second clutch member being formed with an annular series of spring members engaging said gripping members and holding the same in clutching engagement with said valve carrying unit, andL means arranged in the path of travel of said second clutch member to stop the descent of the same.

5. A pump comprising a plungerliner, a clutch member carried by the plunger liner and having a plurality of spring arms, formed with gripping members, a second clutch member receiving the first clutch member and having means to allow of the separation of the gripping members and the ilo movement of the same to inoperative position, a valve carrying unit movable into said plunger liner and engaged by said gripping members, said second clutch member being formed with spring members engaging said gripping members and holding the same in clutching engagement with said valve carrying unit, means arranged in the path of travel of said second clutch member to limit the descent of thesame, and a spring yieldingly supporting the plunger liner.

6. A pump comprising a plunger liner, a clutch member carried by the plunger liner and having a plurality of spring arms, the terminal portions of which are formed with gripping members, a second clutch member receiving the first clutch member and having means to allow the separation of the gripping members and the movement of the same to inoperative position, a valve carrying unit movable into said plunger liner and having means engaged by said gripping members, said second clutch member being formed with an annular series of spring members engaging said gripping members and holding the same in clutching engagement with said valve carrying unit, means arranged in the path of travel of said second clutch member to stop*y the descent of the same, a spring yieldingly supporting the plunger liner, and a valve carried by the lower portionv of the plunger liner.

7. A pump comprising a plunger liner, a clutch member carried by the plunger liner and having arms, the terminal portions of which are formed with gripping members, a second clutch member receiving the first clutch member and having means to allow of the separation of the gripping members and the movement of the same to inoperative position, a valve carrying unit movable into saidplunger liner and having means engaged by said gripping members, said second clutch member being formed with an annular series of spring members engaging said gripping members and, :holding the same in clutching engagement with said valve carrying unit, means arranged in the path of travel of said second clutch member to stop the descent of the same, a spring yieldingly supporting the plunger liner, a valve carried by the lower portion of the plunger liner, and means to unseat said valve as the plunger liner reaches the limit of its downward movement.

8. A deep well pump comprising a plunger liner, a tubular clutch member carried by a liner and having longitudinal incisions dening a plurality of spring arms, a valve carrying unit movable into said liner and having an annular groove to partially receive said spring arms, and a second clutchW said liner and engaged by said enlarge-v ments, and a second clutch member receiving said first-named clutch member and having a plurality of incisions defining spring members engaging said enlargements and` urging the enlargements into gripping engagement with said pumping unit.

10. A pump comprising a plunger liner, a clutch member of tubular formation carried by the liner and having arms, the terminal portions of which are formed with enlargements, a pumping unit received in said liner and engaged by said enlargements, a second clutch member receiving said firstnamed clutch member and having a plurality of incisions defining spring members engaging said ,enlargementsland 'urging the enlargements into gripping engagement with said pumping unit, and means to limit the downward movement of the secondnamed clutch member.

l1.V A pump comprising a plunger liner, a clutch member of tubular formation carried by the liner and having an annular series of spring arms, the terminal portions of which are formed with enlargements, a pumping unit received in said liner and engaged by said enlargements, a second clutch member receiving said first-named clutch member and having a plurality'of incisions defining spring members engaging said enlargements and urging the enlargements into gripping engagement with said pumping unit, and means to limit the downward movement of the second-named clutch member, said second-named cl'utch member being formed with an annular groove to partially receive said enlargements of the spring arms whereby to permit of the movement of the enlargements to inoperative position.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures.

JOHN PENROD. ROBERT D. THOMPSON 

